US import can spark No.1 seed boilover; coach must ‘poke bear’ with MVP — NBL Playoffs Verdict

NBL great Damon Lowery gives his verdict as we reach the pointy end of the playoffs!

Watch The 2024/25 NBL Playoffs & Championship Series LIVE with ESPN on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.

ILLAWARRA HAWKS V SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE PHOENIX

Game 3 is Wednesday night in Illawarra 7:30pm AEDT, ESPN and Kayo Sports

GAME 2: PHOENIX 101 def HAWKS 94

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE

HOOYAH – I love nothing more than a cold-blooded response and that’s exactly what you did, Matt Hurt. Overcoming your Game 1 frustration to drop 30 points at 58%, including 4 triples.

HARDEN UP – Buttttt … when you lose the rebounding count and you only contribute 1 rebound in 37 minutes and you’re 6’9, c’mon Matt – need way more than that.

WHAT WENT RIGHT – Piled on 35 points in the last quarter to force a deciding game. Took Trey Kell III out of the game, went 24/27 from the line, and kept the Hawks under 100 points.

WHAT WENT WRONG – Lost the rebounding battle and gave up 16 offensive rebounds, and 12 turnovers was also too many.

IF I WAS COACHING

1 – Beg, plead, and convince my guys to stay out of foul trouble.

2 – Make sure ‘Game 2’ Matt Hurt shows up for Game 3.

3 – Take a quick trip down memory lane and talk about how far we’ve come. From 0-5 to start the season, to being a win away from the Championship Series. Have we come this far, to only get this far?

ILLAWARRA

HOOYAH – Will Hickey, you led the team in scoring off the bench in only 19 minutes and finished with 19 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.

HARDEN UP – 8 rebounds and 6 assists were great, but the ultimate name of the game is to put the ball in the hole. Trey Kell III, you only did that once. 1/10 for the game, 6 points. Time to regroup.

WHAT WENT RIGHT – Got off to a good start and scores were tied at the end of the first. Held the Phoenix to 15 points in the third to be up 2, won the rebounding by 7, and got 55 points from the bench.

WHAT WENT WRONG – Couldn’t contain Hurt or Nathan Sobey, gave up 35 points in the last quarter, and missed 12 free throws.

IF I WAS COACHING

1 – Don’t overreact, because we’re going home for Game 3.

2 – Nobody leaves training until everybody makes 100 free throws.

3 – Show highlights of the 2001 Hawks semi-final Game 3… *wink*

GAME 1: HAWKS 101 def PHOENIX 94

ILLAWARRA

HOOYAH – Todd Blanchfield came into the post season averaging four points a game. You have always been a shooter and your 16 points and 6 boards, including 4 triples, were massive.

HARDEN UP – Giving up 61 points in a half of basketball on your homecourt is NOT IT! Your team defence was holier than thou. Tighten that up to take the pressure off the offence.

WHAT WENT RIGHT – Great job of taking All-NBL First Teamer Matt Hurt out of the game. Only 6 turnovers and 36 points from the bench. Those 15 offensive rebounds were lethal.

WHAT WENT WRONG – The second quarter defence was non-existent as the Phoenix piled on 34 points at 72%. Allowing Derrick Walton to run amok in the first half with 7 points and 9 assists.

SOUTH EAST MELBOURNE

HOOYAH – Derrick Walton’s hamstrings. You’ve been temperamental this season causing him to miss 14 games, but they held up beautifully helping him to a 15-point, 11-assist double-double.

HARDEN UP – Matt Hurt, welcome to Playoff action. The Hawks were determined to ‘rough’ you up and get in your personal space. It worked and you became frustrated and only managed 10 points.

WHAT WENT RIGHT – Walton made his long-awaited return and got busy. The Phoenix neutralised Sam Froling’s impact and took the sold-out crowd out of the game to lead by seven at the half.

WHAT WENT WRONG – The third quarter was a disaster, blowing an 11-point lead and allowing the Hawks to go on a 21-0 run to take a double figure lead. Lost track of Tyler Harvey, who hit three triples in a row in that pivotal third quarter run. Couldn’t get Matt Hurt going all game.

MELBOURNE UNITED V PERTH WILDCATS

Game 3 is Tuesday night in Melbourne 7:30pm AEDT, ESPN and Kayo Sports

GAME 2: WILDCATS 96 def UNITED 89

PERTH

HOOYAH – The Indiana native, certified sniper and former NBA first round draft pick showed up! Dylan Windler torched United for 27 points (6/7 from three), 11 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 4 blocks.

HARDEN UP – I want to be extremely clear on this, Ben Henshall. This is not for the outstanding defence you played on Chris Goulding and Ian Clark – and that blocked shot on Goulding late in the game was massive. This is for going 0/7 from the field in 32 minutes and scoring a single point. You said you’re a lottery pick in this year’s NBA Draft, and I certainly hope so, but you can’t be registering goose eggs.

WHAT WENT RIGHT – You didn’t panic and chipped away at that big deficit, got great bench contributions from Jesse Wagstaff and Tai Webster, did a great job limiting Goulding to two points in the second half and won the last three quarters.

WHAT WENT WRONG – Defence to start the game was atrocious, giving up 36 points in the first quarter. Bryce couldn’t get going in the first half.

IF I WAS COACHING

1 – Put Jack White on the foul line every time he looks to score.

2 – Throw complete caution to the wind and turn this game into a playground shootout.

3 – Poke the bear, and say to Bryce, “so you can’t score 40 points against these guys?”.

MELBOURNE

HOOYAH – Delly-Mania was alive and well again. Matthew Dellavedova, you almost got a triple double, 13 points, 12 dimes and 8 boards.

HARDEN UP – You couldn’t close out the “close out” game. You were up 20 early, up 14 at the half, up 18 really late in the third, and yet you found a way to lose.

WHAT WENT RIGHT – 36 points in the opening quarter; the offensive execution was beautiful and the defence brilliant, holding Perth to just 41 first half points.

WHAT WENT WRONG – You got out-rebounded by nine, shot free throws with your eyes closed (5/11), and had no answer for Dylan Windler.

IF I WAS COACHING

1 – I’d reassure my team we “lost” the game more than Perth “won” the game.

2 – Have a big sign on the locker room door that reads: NO REBOUNDS, NO RINGS.

3 – Jack White can’t leave training until he makes 200 free throws and any that go in off the backboard, don’t count.

GAME 1: UNITED 105 def WILDCATS 93

MELBOURNE

HOOYAH – Chris Goulding! You are the “Gladiator” and what you did to the Wildcats will echo in eternity. With foul trouble limiting you to 24 minutes, you unleashed hell with 41 points including an equal Finals record 10 made triples.

HARDEN UP – Your 13-point, 10-rebound double-double is not why you landed here, Jack White. It was the AIRBALL from the free throw line.

WHAT WENT RIGHT – Restricting Bryce Cotton’s influence and only allowing him to score 22 points. Foul discipline was solid, as Perth shot just 19 free throws.

WHAT WENT WRONG – Losing the rebounding battle by nine was just about the only issue.

PERTH

HOOYAH – Keanu Pinder, you were your usual aggressive and dominant self, finishing with 24 points and 11 rebounds – it could’ve easily been a 30-piece.

HARDEN UP – Dylan Windler, you’re a member of the BSA (Basketball Snipers Association) and I’m asking for a please explain: how do you only take five shots? What’s with the hesitation?

WHAT WENT RIGHT – You got off to a solid start to lead by a solitary point at the half. Did a great job of getting Chris Goulding in foul trouble and holding him to nine at the main break.

WHAT WENT WRONG – You let Goulding off the chain and were rendered helpless as he knocked down nine second half triples. Dylan Windler didn’t bring his offensive game, and you couldn’t figure out a way to get Cotton more shots, especially in the second half.